New Era in Safety When Cars Talk to One Another

A driver moves along in traffic, the forward view blocked by a truck or a bend in the road. Suddenly, up ahead, someone slams on the brake. Tires screech.

There is little time to react.

Researchers here are working to add time to that equation. They envision a not-too-distant future in which vehicles are in constant, harmonious communication with one another and their surroundings, instantly warning drivers of unseen dangers.

As I read it, the new sensors will strictly be to alert drivers, rather than actually take over any part of the vehicle's operation. As they put it, their primary objective is to improve the drivers' cognizance of traffic problems and give them just a bit more time to react. Obviously nothing's gonna improve human judgment (or lack of).